When I first joined RespectAbility, Ben was one of the first team members I met. He shared with me that RespectAbility was a family, not just a workplace, and it turns out, he was right. What he didn’t say back then, but I came to learn during my tenure, was that Ben was a big part of why RespectAbility is more than just a team of disabled and disability advocates working toward common goals. Ben recognized and appreciated the humanity in all of us and understood better than most that our authentic, disabled identities made us powerful human beings. These identities also make us better advocates and models for those who come after us.
Developing and cultivating disabled leaders was one of Ben’s many passions. He once told me that people would have to take his job as the Senior Manager of RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program by force, because he loved his role that much. Hundreds of disabled leaders have benefited from what’s become known to our team as “Benly wisdom.” Every day, without fail, Ben would be there not just for those currently participating in our leadership programs, but for those who had long since graduated and those in the community at large. Every day, I was inspired by Ben’s dedication and passion for mentorship and support.
In the final days of his life, Ben, being Ben, continued to put the needs of the disability community first. When we talked, he shared ideas for how RespectAbility could have an even greater impact for the disability community by growing our advocacy in new ways. This spirit of service and challenging ourselves to always do more and do better lives on through all team members, past, present, and even future, who were touched by Ben’s work. This is truly Ben’s legacy.
